Vapor generating unit



July 25, 1933- H. J KERR r AL 1,919,335

VAPOR GENERATING UNIT Filed July 10, 1929 FI -Fi -Z Fig-3' f UZQW Q INKI NTQR f E Q Q 1 6 V Z ATTORNEYJ Patented July 25, 1933 UNITED s'rATas JERSEY, A CORPORATION on NEW JERSEY. V

FATE NT HOWARD J. KERR, or wnsrrmrro, AND HARRY n. MELTON, or JERSEY CITY; EW"

JERSEY, AssIGNoRs' TO THE BABCOCK a wILcoXooMPANY, or BAYONNE, NEW

' VAPOR GENERATING nm i 7 Application filed July 10,

This invention relates to a vapor generat= ing element of a boiler adapted for high boil ingpoint'liquids and to a boiler comprising a X multiplicity of such elements. The boileris of the typethat comprises headers having dead-end tubes or elements which roject downwardly into the furnace and are eated by the hot gases. 7 f

The invention will be understood from the. description in connection with the accoInpanying drawing in which Fig.1 is aside view of the vapor generating element; Fig- 2 is a similar view withparts broken away and part in section; Fig. 3 is a section on. an enlarged scale along the line 33 of Fig.1; Fig. 4 is a section along the line 4-4 of Fig. 6; Fig. 5 is avertical section partly broken away, showing the connection ofan element to a boiler header; Fig. 6 is a verti-' cal section along the lower portionof the vapor generating element and Fig. 7 is a Vere tical section through one of the individual tubes of the vapor generating element show; ing a twisted metal strip or displacerin position.

In the drawing, reference characterl indicatesthe bottom wall of a boiler header of a well known type that'is installed to lie in a horizontal direction. A connector 2 is provided which is connected to the header 1' and extends through the lower wall thereof for some distance into the header. The connector 2 may be screwed into ahole by means of screw threads 3 extending through. the

header wall and may bewelded, as indicated.

at 4, to insure. against leakage. The lower end f the connector2 is enlarged, as indicated at 5, and a circular plate 6 is welded to the enlarged portion 5, as indicated at 7. i. 1 '1 A number of, circumferentially disposed vapor generating tubes 8 have their upper ends extending-through the circular plate 6 andare welded in lace, as indicated at 9. A central tube 10, w ich is preferably larger than the tubes 8, has its upper end extending through the central portion of the circular plate 6 and is welded to this circular plate,

as indicated at 11. I i

The bundle of vapor generating tubes 8 1929. Serial K0 3779339... I

are twisted to bring adjacent tubes into contact with'each other and also in contact with; the tube10,j as indicated. Fig. 3, thus shielding the tube10 from .direct' contactby the hot gases.- The slightly-helical ari rangement of the vapor generating tubes 8 1 caused by the twisting provides for expan sion, and by providing greater flexibility and more uniform distribution'of lieat' tends to obviate bowing vor warping, which he .qi1entlyis the case with tubesyof rigid construction when subjected to uneven heating. It will be understood that a plurality ofele- ;Inen ts be used for each header ofthe; mercury-"boiler, these elements being conneoted to the lower sides of the drums or headers of theboiler in rows. The tubes or units maybe arranged in 'any other relative relation,' if desired. l i

A necked fitting12 is provided'with a central upwardly extending tube 13' to the.

upper end zof whichythe lower end oflthe i tube. 10wis weldedyas indicated *atl l'. A somewhat cup-shaped end cap' 15 has the upper edge of its flange welded to the outer edge of the necked fitting 12, as indicated at 16. A conical. projection 17 isprovided in the bottom of thecup-shapedend cap 15 at its-"center and passages-'18extendirom the projection 17 to"positionsbelowf'the lower .endsof the tubes 8 that extend through the fitting 12 and are welded there to,-asi ndicated at'19. I p 1 i ThetubesS may be provided with spiral strips 20 extending frompne end to v the other to actas displacers for the high boil- 1 ing point liquid and alsoto cause the high boiling point liquid and vapor to Inove'in a spiral path whilepassing upwardly. v

A downcomer 21 extends through the central. opening in the circular, plate 6 and its lower open end extends to the opening in the necked fitting 12 and is free to move up and down according to expansion andflcontrac: tion. The outside diameter of the downcomer 21 is somewhat smaller than the "inside diameter of the tube 10, thus'leaving an annular space 22 between the downcomer' 21 and the 'tubelOQ Through this annular space 22 high boiling point liquid can pass to assist in shielding the downcomer 21 from bent portion of the downcomer 21 by weldf ing said plurality of tubes with the downexcessive heat in the furnace. may be attached to the outside of the downcomer 21 to keep the same in position inside of the tube 10. The upper end 24: of the downcomer 21 is bent and extends through the side wall of the connector 2 on the inside ofthe header 1 and is welded in place, as indicated at 25. I

The end -ofthe stem 26 of anumbrella type separator 27 may be attached to the ing the same thereto, as indicated at 28.

diameter.

'ing tubes so that they contact with each Theoperation is as, follows: High boiling point liquid passes from the header downwardly throughthe downcomer 21 out ofits lower end and then along the annular space 22 between the downcomer 21 and thetube '10. Mercury also passes into the lower ends of the tubes .8 which are contacted by the hot gases, tlierebygenerating vaporswhich rise through the connector 2 out of it to a place of use.

By means of this invention more surface} can be providedfor the generation of vapor in a mercury boiler, as the necked-in construction of thetop section ofthe element where it enters the header, permits the ele:

ments to be spaced closer together in the header, thus providing more-surface per (unit of furnace without aliecting the strength of the header as the tube holes are smaller, and by a multiplicity of small tubes arranged in a cylindrical bunch, the necessity for cores or displacers does not exist providing the tubes are of a sufficiently small By twisting the vapor generatother and with a central tube, expansion and contraction are provided for and the vapor generatingtubes provide a shield for the central liquid downcomer. viding an annular space between the central liquid; downcomer and a central tube of slightly larger diameter located concentrically around the downcomer," high boiling point liquid can pass therethrough, thus providing an additional shield for the central liquid downcomer from the hot gas. The combined shielding effect ofthe vapor gen- 1 eratingtubes and the annular. space surrounding the liquid downcomer obviates the necessity of providing insulating material between the outer vapor generating tubes and the inner high boiling point liquid sup.- ply tube. I

We claim:

'1. A vapor generating'device for a boiler adaptedfor high boiling pointliquid comprising a downcomer, junction fittings, a tube surrounding a portion of said downcomer.

Spacers 28 Also by pro-v portion of said downcomerleaving an annular s ace between them a lura-lit of tubes circumferentiaily disposed aroundsaid first named tube, a lower junction fitting connectcomer and a connection from said last named tubes to said boiler, the upper end of said. downcomer extendlng through a wall of sald connection.

3. A vapor generating device for a boiler adapted for high boiling point liquid comprising a downcomer, a tube surroundlng a portion of said; downcomer, a tube surrounding aportion ofsald downcomer leaving an annular space between them, a plurality of tubes circumferentially disposed around said first named tube, and means lower open ends of said downcomer.

4L. A vapor generating device for a boiler adapted for high boiling point liquid comprising a downcomer, a tube surrounding a portion of saiddowncomer leaving an an nular space between them, a plurality of tubes circumferentially disposed around' said first namedtube, and a-lower junction fitting connecting said plurality of tubes with the downcomer each tubes being open. v

' 5. In a boiler adapted for high boiling point liquid, a header, a group of tubes connected to said header, a downcomer within end or all {of said said group of tubes, means to provide an annular space around said downcomer and supply liquid to said space, and a unction fitting connecting the downcomer with said group of tubes.

6. In a boiler adapted-for high boiling point liquid, a header, a group of tubes connected to said header, a downcomer within 2 said group of tubes having its lower end free to expand downwardly, means to provide an annular space around said down comer and supply liquid to said space, and a junction'fitting connecting said downcomer with said group of tubes.

.to provide communication 'between the,

tubes and saldy 8. A vapor generating device, comprising, a header plate, a junction fitting'with a reduced upper portion extending through the header plate and having an open upper end projecting beyond the header plate'for theescape of vapors, a downcomer tube having a liquid collecting opening in the side of the junction fitting, a junction fitting at the lower end of said downcomer tube, and a series of riser tubes between the two junction fittings closely arranged in contact with each otheraround the downcomer tube for the protection 'of'the same from intense heat. t j

9. A vapor generating device comprising, a header plate, a junction fitting having an open upper end extending beyondthe header plate for the escape of vapors, a downcomer tube having a liquid collecting opening in the side of the junction fitting, a

junction fitting at the lower end of said downcomer tube, and a seriesvof riser tubes between the two junction fittings closely arranged in contact with each other around the downcomer tube forthe protection of the same from intense heat. a j

10. A vapor generating device comprising, top and bottom junction fittings, a

downcomer tube extending between the fittings, and a series of riser tubesarranged closely around said downcomer tube and substantially in contact with one another to protect the downcomer tube from intense heat and provide fluid passages between the junction fittings, one of said fittingsconnecting the lower ends of said riser tubes to the lower end of said downcomer.

11. A vapor generating device comprising, top and bottom junction fittings, a downcomer tube extending between the fittings, and a series of riser tubes arranged spirally closely around said downcomer tube to protect the same from intense'heat and provide fluid passages between the junction fittings, the spiral arrangement taking care of the relative expansion between the "downcomer tube and the riser tubes, one of said fittings connecting the lowerends of said riser tubes to the lower end of said downcomer.

comer;

12. A vapor generating device comprising, top and bottom junction fittings, a A

downcomer tube extending between the fit-" tings, and a series of "riser tubes arranged spirally closely around said downcomer tube and substantially in contact with oneanother to protect the downcomer tube from intense heat and provide fluid passages between the junction fittings, the spiral ar-I rangement taking care of the relative expansion between the downcomer tube and the riser tubes, one .of said'fittings connect ing the lower ends of saidjriser tubes to the lower end of said downcomer.

13. A vapor generating device for high boiling point liquids comprising junction fittings, a downcomer supported by one of said fittings at its upper end and free to expand downwardly, a tube surrounding a. portion of said downcomer leaving an annular space i i p b tween them, and a plurality of tubes in; v

the other of said junction fittings and cirsaid down comer and leaving an annular space between said tube and downcomer, an upper junction fitting supporting said downcomer, a plurality of tubes circumferentially disposedaround said first named tube, and p a lower gunction fitting connected to the-plu- I v rality 0 tubes and said downcomer. '15. A vapor generating device for high boiling pointliquids comprising adown- Q comer, a tube surrounding a portion of said downcomer and leaving anannular space 1 between them, and a plurality of tubes extending spirally around said first named I I tube, and means connecting the lower ends ofsaidtubes to the lower'end of said down- I HOWARD J. KERR. HARRY YE. MELTON.

CERTIFICATE OF CoitkEcrIoN.

Patent No. 1,919,335. July 25, 1933.

HOWARD J. KERR, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, lines 85 and 86, claim 3, strike out the words and comma "a tube surrounding a portion of said downcomer,"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of December. A. D. 1933.

F. M. Hopkins (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

